2013 Investor Report: Warrior and Family Care Edition

*Quarterly report on the impact of USO programs and services (January – April 2013)

A donation to the USO is so much more than a symbolic show of support. Your contribution makes lives better for our troops and their families. Every day. Around the world.

Times the USO Supported Wounded, Ill and Injured Troops & Their Families in 2013

From the USO Warrior Center at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany to the brand new USO Warrior and Family Center at Fort Belvoir, troops and families know the USO is always by their side as they face down life’s biggest challenges. It might be a hot meal and a soft couch. It might be career training, family therapy or support kits for children. Whatever they need, the USO is there.

Strengthening Families

Military kids learned how to reconnect with their parents when they returned from deployment, often changed

Support Kits for Military Kids: Kids don’t always understand why a loved one comes home from war changed. Trevor Romain’s presentations on military bases and kits full of fun educational tools, teach children to cope and thrive in their “new normal.”

Caregivers found comfort and support together

Caregivers Conferences: The day-to-day realities of caring for a severely wounded service member can be traumatic, too. That’s why the USO unites the spouses, family members and others who serve as caregivers. These conferences are a lifeline, an opportunity to share ideas and experiences or to just talk with someone who understands.

Families learned to thrive with disabilities

Project Sanctuary Retreats: Six days of therapeutic recreation in the mountains of Colorado will make any family stronger. The USO supported four retreats for wounded troops and their families in the first quarter of 2013 and will back nearly a dozen by year’s end.

Military couples made their marriages stronger

Oxygen Seminars: Military life in a time of war and deployments can push a marriage to the brink. More than 90 percent of couples tell us that the seminars are above average or outstanding and that they have learned tools to sustain their relationships. Some have even told the USO that the seminar saved their marriage.

USO Warrior and Family Centers

Troops, family members and caregivers – so far – have relaxed at USO Warrior and Family Center at Ft. Belvoir

At more than 20,000 square feet, the largest ever USO center opened its doors in February and wasted no time offering troops and their families events and programs and, most importantly, a safe place to recover.

USO Warrior and Family Center at Bethesda

Building on the successes at Landstuhl and Ft. Belvoir, the new facility at Bethesda will be a place for those recovering at Walter Reed to heal their bodies and minds, to strengthen their families and plan for a fulfilling future.

Education, Employment and Reintegration

Troops and family members got a "leg up" in preparing for a civilian job

Career Transition Workshops: At two dozen workshops around the country, 449 wounded, ill and injured troops, along with their spouses and caregivers, learned to translate their military experience for civilian employers with help from the USO and Hire Heroes USA.

Troops were matched with employers ready to hire

Career Opportunity Days: Looking sharp with resumes in hand, 131 people attended one of the five USO/Hire Heroes USA Career Opportunity Days, a non-traditional career fair specialized for wounded, ill and injured troops with employers who have positions available. Many of the troops in attendance leave with job offers and a brighter future ahead.

Physical Health & Recreation

Wounded troops learned they can do anything

Ride 2 Recovery: Healing the body and mind can be accomplished at the same time. We’ve helped hundreds of wounded troops do just that through outdoor cycling activities with traditional or adaptive bicycles.